Fox's 5-game coverage averaged an 8.4 rating (percentage of TV homes), matching the record-low rating for the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies-Tampa Bay series. This year's rating dropped 28% from the 11.7 average rating for last year's Phillies-New York Yankees World Series.

The Fall Classic helped power Fox to prime-time wins on four of the five nights it aired. That's not bad considering it goes up against not only the NFL, college football and the beginning of the NBA and NHL seasons, but the new dramas, sitcoms and reality shows rolled out by networks each fall, says Fox vice chairman Ed Goren.

"You have to understand the World Series and postseason baseball go up against the toughest TV environment with original programming, with the NFL, with a ton of college football. This is the most competitive time of the year," Goren says.

"You're not talking about a postseason in May or June when you're going up against reruns and no other major events. It's a tough field to compete against and if you can come out of that competition No. 1, that's pretty impressive."

The number of TV viewers watching Major League Baseball showcase post-season event, however, grew this year compared to 2008. Giants-Rangers averaged 14.3 million viewers per game, up 5% from the 13.6 million average for Phillies-Rays, but down 26% from last year's 19.4 million for Yankees-Phillies.

This year's series also finished on a high note. One day after an NFL regular season game beat the World Series in TV ratings for the first time, the World Series rebounded to beat Monday Night Football.

Fox's telecast of the Giants' series-clinching 3-1 win Monday drew a fast national rating of 8.8 compared to a 7.4 rating for ESPN's coverage of the Indianapolis Colts' 30-17 victory over the Houston Texans.

Over the two nights this year's World Series faced NFL games almost head-to-head (Games 4 and 5 on Sunday and Monday nights), the series averaged a slightly bigger audience than the NFL games, says Dan Bell of Fox. The two World Series games on Fox averaged 15.3 million viewers vs. 14.8 million for the NFL games on NBC and ESPN.

Theismann blasts Shanahan, Favre, Russell

When ex-Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann was calling NFL games for 19 seasons on ESPN, he was one of the most polarizing analysts on TV.

•On McNabb's benching in favor of Rex Grossman: "I was shocked. I thought (McNabb) got hurt. …You hear the explanation, and it's a bit bizarre. Because you're basically saying he's not in shape to being able to run a two-minute drill in a 72-degree, air-conditioned dome?"

•On former No. 1 pick Russell working out for the Redskins: "I just don't think (he) can play quarterback. I don't how else to put it. I'd like to sugarcoat it. But unless he's changed his work ethic dramatically, unless he's dropped 25 pounds dramatically, I don't think he can play quarterback in the NFL."

•On why Childress should bench Favre: "Brett says, 'If I can't do things to help this football team win, then I probably won't play.' That's baloney. Brett's going to play until somebody tells him not to. … Somebody has to tell you the greatness isn't there anymore. … Now it's reached the point where it's like, 'Man, just stop. Please.' "

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